Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, Niagara LaSalle, Ovako
Aluminum 3003-O
3003-O (annealed) aluminium-manganese alloy, the heat-exchanger tube and brazing alloy, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 3003 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from the NIST cryogenic 3003-F fit at 293 K.
Steel AISI 1045
AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants
1
Alloy 3003 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 3003-O · Yield strength: typical, O, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 3003-O · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, OAluminum 3003-O · Elongation at break: typical, O, in 4DAluminum 3003-O · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 3003-O · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal conductivity: typical, O, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 3003-O · Melting point: melting range
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Is Aluminum 3003-O stronger than Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (13.3x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1045?
Aluminum 3003-O is lighter: 2,730 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1045?
Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 3003-O, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1045?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 3003-O is lighter for a stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate; Steel AISI 1045 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum 3003-O
Steel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
7% heavier
lighter
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.64x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
1.97x heavier
Strong rod or tie
4.65x heavier
lighter
Strong beam
1.96x heavier
lighter
Strong panel or plate
28% heavier
lighter
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which is more ductile, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1045?
Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 12% for Steel AISI 1045.
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Steel AISI 1045?
Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 42.5 W/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 23.2 µm/m·K for Aluminum 3003-O.